I think that the first step should be making it more obvious on packaging just what is recyclable. The only things that I buy here that have the complete symbol with number on it, are fully imported items. Not all plastics are recyclable, and business is not going to deal with material that they cannot make a profit from.

Whatever method is used it will only work when the consumer has to pay. Manufactures should be forced to use only those materials that are recyclable, but I doubt that method could be enforced. It also needs a "mindset", and THAT for sure is not found here!

Of course you can take your own bag into stores. It folds up and fits in your pocket and you load it up at the counter. Just say no thanks when they try to give you a plastic bag and a straw for each can of beer???????? Must admit I do get plastic bags from Makro etc as I buy large amounts of food products at a time but I take them to the recycle plant and they pay me for them.

Try buying 20 kg of pork, 10kg of chicken and a load of other stuff and see if Makro put it in plastic bags. In fact buy 1 kilo and you will get a free plastic glove to put it into your bag. Maybe Pranburi different. Don't shop there.

The answer is not to go back to the dark ages and stop plastic bags. Biodegradable plastic bags are already available and there is in insignificant manufacturing cost difference when compared to non degradable bags. The only problem is that the volume needs to switch to make it cost effective. Anything in small volumes costs more to produce and it's no different for plastics.

At home, we normally keep our carrier bags for reuse and Villa started using biodegradable bags without me being aware. After a couple of months, sitting neatly folded under my sink ('Er indoors always folds them In neat triangles), they were already falling to pieces. We have the technology but not the will to use it!!

"'The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why." - Mark Twain

Interesting that inplaceswhee they have taken the middle course of not banning but makinga charge compulsary, people take their own bags AND the people who dont or forget invariably apolologise in a loud voice for buying bags. It becomes unfashionable and that is more effective than the charge.

This is a good start. I have always believed that plastic take away food containers are more of a problem than shopping bags.
..................................................................................Phasi Charoen leads the way in food packaging

'The number of customers actually increased after I ditched styrofoam containers for recycled ones to pack takeaway food," said Somchai Puengsin, a food vendor in Phasi Charoen district.

Mr Somchai runs Krua Khun Oy (Khun Oy's Kitchen) which sells single rice dishes and is part of the "Say Yes to Recycled Food Containers" programme. The project was initiated by Siam University's Research Centre for Community Development in collaboration with Phasi Charoen district, to reduce waste.

The 54-year-old vendor boasted of the increasing number of takeaway orders after joining the campaign. Although the increased cost of the recycled containers is four times higher than styrofoam, he will not increase his prices or change the quality and quantity of the food he cooks for his customers.

Supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, the campaign is aimed at discouraging food vendors in the district from using styrofoam and plastic food containers and urging them to use packaging that is environmentally friendly.

A 100-unit pack of foam food containers is priced at 45 baht, compared to 200 baht for recycled containers made from sugarcane. He urged the government to support vendors to use recycle food containers by creating a similar campaign across the country in the hopes that it would bring down the cost of material.

"If a large number of vendors joined the campaign we would negotiate with producers of recycle food containers over wholesale purchases," he said.

more at link....long article>
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The first place to start should be with the big supermarket chains, such as Tesco and Big C. They have the buying capacity to force the manufacturing costs down.

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!